Nativity Fast, day 23
Saints commemorated
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St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397) was one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Western Church and, with Augustine, Jerome and Gregory the Great, a pillar of Latin Christianity — yet he is venerated equally in the East as one of the universal teachers of the faith. A Roman provincial governor acclaimed bishop by the people of Milan while still an unbaptised catechumen, he became the foremost champion of Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism in the West, the spiritual father who baptised Augustine, a pioneer of Latin hymnody and antiphonal chant, and the bishop who compelled the emperor Theodosius the Great to do public penance for the massacre at Thessalonica — asserting that the emperor stands within the Church, not above it. His feast is December 7, the day of his consecration.
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Ven. Nilus of Stolobensk
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The Martyrs of Africa, who suffered during the Vandal persecution (429 and following)
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Our Venerable Father Antony of Siya (1556)
Anthony of Siya (c. 1477–1556) was a monastic founder of the Russian far north, the abbot who established the monastery of the Holy Trinity on the River Siya (Sija), in the wilderness of the North Dvina, and made it a centre of prayer, learning and iconography in the Archangelsk borderlands. Trained in his youth as an icon-painter and himself remembered as an iconographer, he sought solitude even as his foundation grew famous, twice withdrawing to remoter hermitages before the brethren recalled him. He guided the Siya monastery until his death at the age of seventy-nine, and is venerated among the wonderworkers of the Russian North. His feast is December 7.
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Athenodorus of Mesopotamia
Athenodorus was a martyr of Syrian Mesopotamia who suffered in the last great persecution of Diocletian, about the year 304. Having embraced the monastic life from his youth, he was denounced as a Christian, arrested, and subjected to severe tortures by the governor Eleusius; the miracles that attended his sufferings converted many of the pagan onlookers to Christ. He was beheaded, and is commemorated in the Byzantine synaxaria on December 7.
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Gregory of Grigoriou
Gregory of Grigoriou was the founder and first builder of the monastery of Grigoriou on Mount Athos, one of the twenty great houses of the Holy Mountain. A Serbian by birth, he pursued the ascetic life on Athos and raised a monastery dedicated to St Nicholas, which was afterward renamed Grigoriou in his honour. His signature is preserved in an Athonite document of 1405, fixing him to the close of the fourteenth and the opening of the fifteenth century; the tradition holds that his relics were later carried off from the Mountain by Serbian monks. He is commemorated on December 7.
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Nilus of Stolobny
Nilus of Stolobny (died 1554) was one of the great hermit-ascetics of northern Russia, who spent twenty-six years in absolute solitude on a wooded island in Lake Seliger, in the Tver borderlands, and there founded — after his death — one of the most famous monasteries of the Russian Church, the Nilov Hermitage (Nilova Pustyn). Renowned for extremes of self-denial, above all his vow never to lie down but to sleep upright, leaning on two wooden hooks set into the wall of his cell, he became after his repose a wonderworker venerated across Russia, his image reproduced in countless carved wooden figures. His feast is December 7; the uncovering of his relics is kept on May 27.
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Paul the Obedient
Paul the Obedient is a monastic saint known only from a short synaxarion notice, which gives neither his dates nor his country. Born of wealthy parents, he renounced the world on reaching maturity and received his surname "the Obedient" for the depth of his humility and the complete renunciation of his own will. Marvels attended his ascetic life, and after journeys to Jerusalem and Cyprus he ended his days as a solitary on Mount Paregoros ("the mountain of Solace"). He is commemorated on December 7.
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Philothea of Argeș
Philothea of Argeș (c. 1206 – c. 1218) is a child virgin-martyr of the Balkans whose incorrupt relics, enshrined at the monastery of Curtea de Argeș, made her one of the great protecting saints of Romania. Born near Trnovo in Bulgaria to a poor family, she was killed at about twelve years of age by her own father, who struck her in fury when he discovered that she was giving his food to the poor. Her body could not be lifted until the monastery of Curtea de Argeș was named as its resting place, and there she has been venerated for centuries with an annual festal pilgrimage on her feast, December 7.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Buithe, missionary (521)
- St. Diuma, bishop and missionary (658)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 3
Blazing with divine doctrines, thou didst darken the delusion of Arius, O initiate of the mysteries and shepherd Ambrose; and working wonders by the power of the Spirit, thou didst plainly heal afflictions of every kind. O venerable father, entreat Christ God to grant us great mercy.
Kontakion — Tone 8
From thy youth, O venerable one, thou didst waste thy flesh with fasting and prayers, and taking up thy cross thou didst follow Christ; wherefore thou didst joyfully accomplish thy course to the heights, where thou standest with all the saints before the Holy Trinity. And now, visiting thy flock, remember those who honour thy most holy memory, that we all may cry to thee with thanksgiving: Rejoice, O God-wise Anthony, instructor of the wilderness.
Kontakion — Tone 8
Withdrawing from thy homeland, O venerable one, thou didst settle in the wilderness, and going up onto the island in Lake Seliger thou didst show forth a life of hardship; and having astonished many by thy virtues, thou didst receive from Christ the gift of wonders. Remember us who honour thy memory, that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O Nilus our father.
Magnification
We call thee blessed, O venerable father Nilus, and we honour thy holy memory, O instructor of monks and companion of the angels.
Troparion — Tone 4
A rule of faith and an image of meekness, a teacher of temperance, thy manner of life hath shown thee to thy flock; therefore by humility thou didst gain the heights, and by poverty riches. O father and hierarch Ambrose, entreat Christ God that our souls be saved.
Troparion — Tone 1
Kindled with spiritual longing and casting off the tumults of the world, thou didst cleave with love to the one God; and seeking Him with thy whole soul, thou didst depart into the inner wilderness, settling by the waters, where abiding long years in tears and labours thou didst pass an angelic life in great patience, taught by the divine Wisdom, and didst gather a multitude of monks, O wise one. Cease not to visit them, O Anthony our venerable father, praying to the Most Holy Trinity to deliver us from every evil and to save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy martyr Athenodorus, O Lord, in his contest received from thee our God the crown incorruptible; for possessing thy strength, he cast down the persecutors and broke the feeble boldness of the demons. By his intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears thou didst make the barren desert bloom, and by thy deep sighs thou didst make thy labours bring forth fruit a hundredfold, becoming a beacon that shone upon the world with wonders. O Gregory our venerable father, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
As a most radiant lamp thou didst shine forth on the island in Lake Seliger, O venerable father Nilus; for from thy youth thou didst take the Cross of Christ upon thy shoulders and follow after Him with fervour, and drawing near to God by purity thou wast enriched with the gift of wonders. Wherefore we also, coming to the shrine of thy relics, cry out with compunction: O venerable father, entreat Christ God that our souls be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears thou didst make the barren desert bloom, and by thy deep sighs thou didst make thy labours bring forth fruit a hundredfold, becoming a beacon that shone upon the world with wonders. O Paul our venerable father, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy lamb Philothea crieth out to thee with a loud voice, O Jesus: "O my Bridegroom, thee I love, and seeking thee I suffer; I am crucified and buried together with thee in thy baptism, and I endure for thy sake, that I may reign with thee; I die for thee, that I may live in thee: accept me as a spotless sacrifice offered to thee with love." By her prayers, O merciful One, save our souls.
Readings
5th Matins Gospel
Luke 24.12-35
12Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
Epistle
Ephesians 6.10-17
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Gospel
Luke 17.12-19
12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.